In an exciting Liga MX match between Pachuca and León, a pivotal moment occurred just before halftime that marked the outcome of the game. Young Elías Montiel from Pachuca committed a brutal foul on James Rodríguez in the 45+5 minute, hitting him in the neck with his left leg, which earned him a direct red card from referee Adonai Escobedo.
The defensive error allowed Jhonder Cádiz from León to score the first goal five minutes into the match. Despite his skills on the field, this time James Rodríguez's outstanding performance was overshadowed by the risky foul that endangered his physical integrity.
Pachuca applied strong pressure throughout most of the match, complicating León's task of moving the ball forward. Despite the controversy, James Rodríguez remained on the field after the harsh tackle and completed the 90 minutes of the game.
Despite the numerical disadvantage due to Montiel's expulsion, Pachuca expressed its disagreement with the referee's decision. León effectively controlled the match, and Stiven Mendoza scored the winning goal, with assistance from James Rodríguez.
With this victory, León achieved a historic milestone, reaching five consecutive wins at the start of the tournament and positioning themselves as the undisputed leader with 15 points. América, the current champion, closely follows with 13 points in the standings.
Despite the intensity of the match, medical assistance attended to James Rodríguez after the harsh tackle, with no significant physical consequences. Brazilian John Kennedy equalized the match for Pachuca with a precise finish inside the area during an intense reaction from the home team.
